
Hosted by Victor Davis Hanson | The Daily Signal · EN

California’s political dysfunction, growing concerns over immigration and election integrity, and declining trust in public institutions reflect a broader struggle over accountability, governance, and national identity. Questions surrounding border security, demographic change, public safety, and political leadership continue to shape debates across the United States while voters increasingly question whether government institutions are serving the public interest. At the same time, challenges abroad—from China and Iran to Canada, Europe, and the future of Western alliances—are forcing leaders to confront shifting geopolitical realities. Economic competitiveness, technological innovation, national sovereignty, and civic trust remain central to the ability of free societies to navigate an increasingly uncertain world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran, China, immigration, elite institutions, and the future direction of the Democratic Party all point back to a broader debate over power, nationalism, and the stability of the Western world. Growing tensions in the Middle East, questions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and fears of conflict with China continue shaping American foreign policy, while political and cultural battles at home are increasingly centered around institutional control, media influence, and ideological conformity. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Go to My Patriot Supply to see exclusive deals before offers end! https://www.mypatriotsupply.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America’s political and cultural institutions are becoming increasingly centralized, ideological, and disconnected from ordinary citizens. Media organizations, universities, government agencies, and political elites continue accusing opponents of authoritarianism while expanding their own influence over public life, speech, and information. This phenomenon helps explain California’s political decline, the growing distrust in elite institutions, the use of “fascism” as a political weapon, and why more Americans feel the system is no longer accountable to the people it governs. Questions surrounding healthcare, welfare spending, lawfare, media control, and one party dominance all point back to a broader struggle over power, institutional trust, and the future direction of the country. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Democrat turned Trump’s director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, announced her resignation last week, citing her husband’s ongoing battle with bone cancer. While her time in office was marked by some big America First wins, like declassifications of the Russia collusion hoax documents, it was only a matter of time before Gabbard was brought into the debate brewing over the administration’s ongoing conflict with Iran, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com 👉 #1 Water Filtration System.Recommended by Victor Davis Hanson: https://www.covepure.com/vdh 👉PEPPERDINE: Daily Signal listeners save 50–75% https://go.pepperdine.edu/dailysignal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political dysfunction in California, the collapse of communist regimes, the meaning of Memorial Day, and the importance of the citizen soldier all point back to the same question: what happens when leaders become detached from the people they govern? Cuba remains impoverished decades after revolution while political elites continue to prosper. California continues to struggle with homelessness, public disorder, and governance questions while national ambitions grow among its leadership. At the same time, debates over fairness, political incentives, and institutional trust continue to reshape public life. Memorial Day serves as a reminder that America’s military tradition was built around citizen soldiers, ordinary people who returned to the communities and institutions they defended. Strong societies depend not only on economic and military strength, but on civic responsibility, accountability, and citizens who remain invested in preserving what they inherit. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Use code VICTOR at the check out and get 35% off your order at https://www.purehealthresearch.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Arab nations, most namely Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, want the United States to destroy the Iranian regime—they’re just not willing to both say it out loud, and do it themselves, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Go to My Patriot Supply to see exclusive deals before offers end! https://www.mypatriotsupply.com/ 👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com 👉Protect women’s sports from biological reality denial at JoinADF.com/HANSON or Text HANSON to 83848 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris floats “no bad ideas” proposals like abolishing the Electoral College and packing the Supreme Court. Democrats only attack rules when out of power, argue Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” They connect these trends to broader left-wing efforts to change American institutions, describing Democrats as adolescent and grift-prone, and cite episodes of fraud and hostility toward law enforcement, including Democrats voting against a pro-police resolution. Hanson warns of rising antisemitism on the Left, faults Barack Obama and Democrat leaders for silence, and argues authoritarian impulses come from protected elites rather than Trump. The episode also condemns Stephen Colbert and David Letterman’s on-air property destruction, mocks DEI-driven “whiteness” rhetoric from an Iowa candidate, and closes with reflections on classic war films and Memorial Day programming. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉PEPPERDINE: Daily Signal listeners save 50–75% https://go.pepperdine.edu/dailysignal 👉Title thieves can steal your home with a signature. Protect your equity with Home Title Lock: https://www.hometitlelock.com/ PROMO CODE: VICTOR at check out. 👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A CIA whistleblower, James Erdman III, alleges that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the architect behind many of the notorious, draconian public health policies, “influenced” the U.S. intelligence community’s examination of the COVID-19 origins probe, pushing analysts away from lab-leak theories—what else did they lie about, asks Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Go to My Patriot Supply to see exclusive deals before offers end! https://www.mypatriotsupply.com/ 👉Protect women’s sports from biological reality denial at JoinADF.com/HANSON or Text HANSON to 83848 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The narrative that America is in terminal decline while China is an unstoppable juggernaut is a completely historically illiterate trope. Donald Trump has structural, economic, and geopolitical levers that Beijing simply cannot match if the administration chooses to enforce true parity. By reclaiming American energy dominance and taking a decisive stand in the Straits of Hormuz, the administration is poised to secure a booming economy just in time for the midterms. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now! https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Use code VICTOR at the check out and get 35% off your order at https://www.purehealthresearch.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Given that we spent over a trillion dollars in Iraq and maybe more in Afghanistan, and Joe Biden left $50 billion in equipment in the latter, the idea that you would spend less than $30 billion and have a chance to overthrow the worst government in the world—one that’s caused most of the problems we’ve had in the Middle East—is a bargain, if it works, and I think it will, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” ALSO:Victor Davis Hanson and host Sami Winc preview Donald Trump’s trip to China, arguing the U.S. holds leverage through trade, energy, and military advantages while China seeks concessions tied to Taiwan. They weigh the Iran conflict, calling the reported $29 billion cost a “bargain” if it topples the regime, and describe regional allies’ limited military commitment and the risks of prolonged negotiations. Hanson rejects a New York Times op-ed claim that Israelis used “dog rape” against Palestinian prisoners as implausible and sourced from anti-Israel channels, contrasting it with documented Hamas atrocities. They criticize Pope Leo XIV for honoring Iran’s Vatican ambassador, cover JD Vance’s task force uncovering major healthcare fraud and also review Rand Paul’s COVID-origin investigation implicating U.S. funding routes to Wuhan. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉Title thieves can steal your home with a signature. Protect your equity with Home Title Lock: https://www.hometitlelock.com/ PROMO CODE: VICTOR at check out. 👉Everything you carry is broadcasting a signal—your phone, laptop, even your car key. SLNT Faraday Bags cut that signal instantly. No GPS. No WiFi. No tracking. Trusted by the military, now available to you. Get 15% off + free shipping at https://SLNT.com/VDH 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Face the decisions our founders grappled with in Revolutionary America, a Hillsdale Studios film. Only in theatres May 31 - June 2. Get your tickets now by going to hillsdale.edu/revolution 👉Switch your cell phone provider to Patriot Mobile, and you’ll help grow a movement that fuels the Christian conservative cause. Go to PatriotMobile.com/VDH or call 972-PATRIOT and use promo code VDH for a FREE MONTH of service!https://patriotmobile.com/partners/vdh 👉Use code VICTOR at the check out and get 35% off your order at https://www.purehealthresearch.com/ 👉Go to My Patriot Supply to see exclusive deals before offers end! https://www.mypatriotsupply.com/ 👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com |👉 #1 Water Filtration System.Recommended by Victor Davis Hanson: https://www.covepure.com/vdh 👉Protect women’s sports from biological reality denial at JoinADF.com/HANSON or Text HANSON to 83848 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices